St. Pat's Grand Marshal Accused of DWI, Hit-and-Run
Richard Smith, who served honorary position in March, allegedly struck parked vehicle.
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The 2012 Morris County St. Patrick's Day Parade Grand Marshal is accused of driving while intoxicated, hitting a parked car and leaving the scene of the accident.
Richard Smith, 62, of Crescent Drive in Morris Township, was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated, leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident, failure to report a motor vehicle accident and careless driving during the early-morning hours of Aug. 11.
Shortly before midnight, officers Robert Iozzia and Carmen Caponegro responded to Sunset Place for a hit-and-run accident involving a parked vehicle.
While the Morristown officers were en route to the accident scene, Morris Township Officer Stan Witczak conducted a motor vehicle stop on Rosemilt Place of a 2003 Honda Pilot that had sustained heavy damage to its front end and windshield and appeared to have had deployed its airbags recently, according to a report.
The Morristown police officers responded to Rosemilt Place. Morristown Police asked Smith if he had been in the area of Sunset Place—and if he had hit a parked vehicle. Smith said he had come from Sona Thirteen and, according to a crash report, hit something that he could not recall on Sunset Place and "made an error in judgement" by fleeing the crash scene.
While speaking to Smith, Iozzia noticed a smell of alcohol from his breath, that he was swaying as he stood in place and a small laceration to his right hand, according to the report.
Smith also told police he could not recall if he had hit his head in the accident, prompting police to send him to Morristown Medical Center for treatment, according to the report.
He was later released to the custody of his wife. A court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 24 at Morristown Town Hall.
For questions about this post, email john.dunphy@patch.com.
In This article
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Sona Thirteen
13 South St, Morristown, NJ -
Morristown Medical Center
100 Madison Ave, Morristown, NJ -
Morristown Town Hall
200 South St, Morristown, NJ
Tryclyde
2:31 pm on Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Has Morristown claimed the title of "DWI Capital of New Jersey" yet?
Johanna
8:25 am on Thursday, August 23, 2012
Mayor Dougherty has 3 DUI's so I guess so! Can any town beat that?
local yocal
9:39 am on Thursday, August 23, 2012
Dougherty's 3 DWI's were a long time ago. Why would you bring that up?
DumbDumphy
4:13 pm on Tuesday, August 21, 2012
What is the point of these articles? This is just written to humiliate?
Tryclyde
6:55 pm on Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Haha. It's Honest Abe with a new name. Changing your name won't make you look less ridiculous, buddy (It also didn't fool us for a second).
Liz
4:40 pm on Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Abe...changing your screen name won't help...we know it's you. You're always complaining about embarassing people. The Patch reports crimes, like any other news source, and just maybe it will deter people from committing the same crime in the future. You must have a lot of skeletons in your closet to be so apprehensive.
John Dunphy
8:04 pm on Tuesday, August 21, 2012
"Honest Abraham," if you make claims and accusations that are unable to be backed up factually, they will be deleted from this comment thread. This applies to you the same that it would apply to any commenter making comments on this site. But, if you know of something Patch should know about, or have information you wish to share, you are welcome to email me at john.dunphy@patch.com.
Maureen Denman
6:48 am on Wednesday, August 22, 2012
This is another fine example of the "family oriented community" that didn't want the likes of Snooki & her entourage filming in their town. This article must make you beam with pride!
D.E.Beckett ( SanFelice)
7:21 am on Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Beam w pride :(
D.E.Beckett ( SanFelice)
7:23 am on Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Maybe Mr Smith can make a public apology.
Motown Gentleman
7:36 am on Wednesday, August 22, 2012
It seriously is a wonder this guy did not kill a human being (including himself). The car parked on Sunset Place I pass everyday on my way home and Holy Crap! He literally knocked the trunk door of this station wagon. Car is entirely destroyed.
Moira
7:56 am on Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Sona Thirteen ...
Spaceman47
8:56 am on Wednesday, August 22, 2012
DWI capital of NJ!?!? You serious with that stupid comment?
Tryclyde
9:07 am on Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Two words: Lighten Up.
Motown Resident
9:35 am on Wednesday, August 22, 2012
It's a shame, thank goodness no one was hurt. Rich has been a stellar member of this community for 30 years, let's not judge him on a single evening of poor judgment. DUI is no laughing matter, but this is a good man.
Maureen Denman
11:02 am on Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Kudos to John Dunphy for having the cahoonahs to cover events like this! It takes a brave journalist to tell the truth.
The Mud Lady
2:21 pm on Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Yeah Spaceman, I'm sure he wants to make it the official motto of Morristown.
John Dunphy
4:29 pm on Wednesday, August 22, 2012
I'll once again state, via copy/paste: "Honest Abraham," if you make claims and accusations that are unable to be backed up factually, they will be deleted from this comment thread. This applies to you the same that it would apply to any commenter making comments on this site. But, if you know of something Patch should know about, or have information you wish to share, you are welcome to email me at john.dunphy@patch.com.
Freda's Sugar Daddy
5:25 pm on Wednesday, August 22, 2012
They left out alot of the normal police report info. especially his BAC.
Man it must have been really high if he didn't recall that he had hit "something."
Street Leader
5:46 pm on Friday, August 24, 2012
His BAC was so high, he was mistaken for Freda when he tried to walk the straight line.
Cap
6:50 pm on Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Not sure what's so surprising here.
Motown Resident
8:13 am on Thursday, August 23, 2012
Yes, Cap, it didn't go unnoticed that the Patch puts an "irishman" caught for DUI as front-page news. (Even though other DUI's don't warrant that kind of attention) I'm sure the slight was unintentional. (But without question the friendly son's will be discussing it).
clyde donovan
2:56 pm on Sunday, August 26, 2012
Classic example of "man bites dog" story.
Janet Blanchard
11:30 am on Thursday, August 23, 2012
Stop pointing fingers, maybe one day you or someone in your family may get a DWI's we all make mistakes. Most of us are closet alcoholics anyway. Carry on and have a great day !!!!!
CSS
5:16 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
"Most of us are closet alcoholics anyway."
Do tell...
Janet Sosure Blanchard
10:52 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
Yes we are, glad I don't drink and drive.
Freda's Sugar Daddy
6:21 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
Hmm. He calls his wife and asks her to pick him up at the police station.
When he could have called her and asked her to pick him up at
The Sona Thirteen!! You want me to give this boozer a break?
Come on now people.
LR
9:51 am on Friday, August 24, 2012
And why is he drinking at Sona while it's full of young adults?? Perv!
Jersey Jerry
1:18 pm on Friday, August 24, 2012
I must have missed the sign posted out in front of Sona 13 that states "For Young Adults Only " !!!
clyde donovan
2:09 pm on Sunday, August 26, 2012
Anyone who has an issue with the abuse of any drugs, including alcohol, can get effective treatment right in Morristown at The Thought Exchange.
http://thethoughtexchange.biz/
Travis
1:55 pm on Monday, August 27, 2012
How's my driving record? It's clean. Real clean. Like my conscience.
Dr Jack StJames
10:48 pm on Friday, October 12, 2012
My vehicle was hit by a drunk driver and daughter injured to the point the drunkin idiot tried to escape by driving down a way way street and luckily there was a patrol car seeing him exit it where he was stopped and arrested. In the meantime I had a damaged vehicle and a injured 12 year old. DWI drivers get what they deserve, but hould be more. He was lucky the police stopped him rather then my following him!